The world may be a crazy place these days, but when you live in the Texas Hill Country, you can count on many blessings. We’re soaking in the sun and celebrating inspiration today with feel good stories to make you smile.
Family-focused with a passion for fermented things in an idyllic setting in Dripping Springs. Based on the buzz and their popular Instagram page, that’s what Family Business Beer is all about. Discover the familiar face (yes, you have seen him on TV!) and the cool story behind this new brewery that’s calling the Texas Hill Country home.
Plus, get to know Cheyanna’s Champions 4 Children (CC4C) and find out how you can support this local organization at Hill Country Galleria on September 17.
Let’s dig in …
Food + Drink
A new brewery has arrived in the Lake Travis area and in Ron Burgundy-like fashion, it’s “kind of a big deal.”
Family Business Beer Company will be located on a 15-acre tract at 19510 Hamilton Pool Road in Dripping Springs. What makes this new beer biz so buzz-worthy? One of the owners is actor Jensen Ackles who stars in the long-running TV series, Supernatural.
Jensen is a Dallas native who grew up in Richardson, Texas. He’s an actor, an athlete, a Cowboys fan, a dad of three — including twins — and now an enthusiastic partner in a new craft brew endeavor with his wife, brother-in-law and other family members.
So why is his face so familiar? Well, back in the day he was on Days of Our Lives as Eric Brady (ring any bells, DOOL fans?) He was on Dark Angel, Dawson’s Creek and Smallville, to name a few. In 2005, he began working on CW’s sci-fi thriller, Supernatural and 12 years later, it’s still a hit. When he isn’t filming Supernatural, Jensen lives here in Austin with his wife and three kiddos.
One of the things Jensen and his family are passionate about happens to be ale and lager. Building a brewery and taproom in Dripping Springs where they can share their love of beer just made sense.
When the construction dust settles, FBBC will be the perfect family-friendly spot to taste homegrown ales, lagers, session IPAs and the mother of all beer, barrel-aged stouts. Beer production is already underway. Look for a playground, live music and food trucks coming soon.
Live Local
If you live in the Lake Travis area, you’ve probably heard about a local organization called CC4C. The initials stand for Cheyanna’s Champions 4 Children, a non-profit that provides children with rare or undiagnosed conditions and their families in the Central Texas area with resources to help meet the child’s medical needs not covered by insurance or other financial assistance.
The organization was started in 2011 by mom-turned-marathoner Talaya Frazier, whose young daughter Cheyanna (born in 2006) was a fructose and sucrose malabsorber. There isn’t a cure for this digestive disorder, so Talaya and her husband were constantly seeking answers while trying to ease and soothe their sick child.
As the mom of a child diagnosed with autism nearly 10 years ago, I know the feeling. It’s hopelessness in its purest form — watching you child suffer and not being able to fix it. If you can’t figure out how to fight through it, it will shut you down.
For me, I started blogging about autism to share my family’s story in hopes of helping other moms in the same situation. Talaya laced up her running shoes and found her catharsis running marathons and triathlons to support sick children.
Running marathons was a godsend for Talaya and she soon became a World Vision ambassador, sponsoring more than 45 children. World Vision is a Christian nonprofit that helps families worldwide by helping pay for food, water, vaccinations, and education.
Locally, Talaya started CC4C and has helped Central Texas children and families struggling with undiagnosed and rare conditions. Speaking from personal experience, the financial impact alone is daunting. No matter how prepared you think you are, when you have a sick child, it’s never enough. CC4C is dedicated to easing the financial strain on families, so they can focus on the task at hand — healing, helping and finding solutions.
If you want to help support CC4C’s mission, you can lace up your shoes for “Run to Uplift” on Sept 17 at Hill Country Galleria. This annual 2.62 micro-marathon is a family-friendly event and fundraiser with more than 600 attendees. Explore the stories of 10 special kiddos the organization is currently supporting and you’ll understand why this is a beloved organization in Lake Travis.
Is there a local organization doing great things in the Lake Travis area that we should write about? Let us know in the comments section on Facebook.
